Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) invites you to a webinar on one of Arizona’s most urgent challenges: meeting the surge in electricity demand. Arizona electric utilities continue to set record high demand as it soars above original forecasts for 2025. Mining and data centers—two of the state’s largest consumers of electricity are expanding rapidly, adding even more pressure on the grid. This drives home the fact that we must continue to expand dependable power resources to maintain a reliable and resilient grid for growing businesses and industries. 

With new federal policies limiting support for wind and solar—the fastest, most affordable energy to deploy—the choices made now will shape Arizona’s future economic competitiveness. Chambers and economic development organizations have a critical role to play in ensuring Arizona’s businesses and communities have access to reliable, cost-effective power.

Discussion topics will explore:

• What’s driving Arizona’s unprecedented electricity demand 

• Solutions to meeting rising demand, including clean energy’s unique advantages in speed of buildout and keeping utility rates low

• Strategies for balancing siting, permitting, and land use with economic priorities

• How chambers and EDOs can shape Arizona’s energy choices to strengthen business competitiveness and attract investment

Featured Speakers:

• Blaise Caudill, Deputy Director of Resiliency, Arizona Governor's Office of Resiliency

• Chris Clark, President & CEO, Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce

• Jim Rounds, Economist, Rounds Consulting Group

• Melany Edwards-Barton, CEO, Sky Islands Regional Partnership & Foundation

• Moderator: Colin Diaz, Western Regional Director, Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy